The CultureShock! guide to Scotland describes the country as being in a state of permanent inebriation and where racial harassment and verbal and physical abuse are commonplace.

The book, from the American publisher Marshall Cavendish, also portrays Scots as promiscuous and having no fashion sense.

On a visit to America last week Jack McConnell, the first minister, announced plans to boost the number of US tourists coming to Scotland by a third to almost 500,000 in the next five years.

However, the guide, aimed at American tourists, states: “The Scottish people’s resentment of their English neighbour is still palpable. There are certain pubs in the rougher areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh where it is best not to enter if you have an English accent. To avoid trouble, particularly if you are a young male, avoid eye contact with young men. This can be interpreted as an invitation for a fight.”"